St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa carries the 2011 World Series Champship trophy into the clubhouse at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on October 28, 2011. The Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers 6-2 winning game 7 of the World Series. The Cardinals won their 11th World Series after defeating the Rangers 4 game to 3. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa carries the 2011 World Series Champship trophy. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, along with former managers Joe Torre and Bobby Cox, were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame this morning. They will be inducted into Cooperstown this summer.

The 69 year old La Rusaa retired after winning the 2011 World Series. His 2,728 wins are good for third all-time in baseball. Cox is fourth at 2,504 and Torre is fifth on that list with 2,336.   La Russa won three World Series, two with St. Louis and one with Oakland.  La Russa started his managerial career with the White Sox in 1979.

“We are proud of Tony and honored that he will be joining an elite and distinguished group of Cardinals in the Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Cardinals Chairman, William DeWitt, Jr.  “This is truly a great day for Cardinals Nation.”

“It was an honor and privilege to work with Tony for nearly fifteen years,” Cardinals Sr. V.P. & G.M. John Mozeliak said.  “I am very happy for Tony on this well-deserved honor.”

Torre managed the Cardinals from 1990-95, getting fired in the ’95 season after 47 games.  The following year he took over the Yankees where he would win four of the next five World Series titles.  Prior to managing the Cardinals, Torre was manager of the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves.

Cox spent two stints in Atlanta around time with Toronto.  He managed 15 division winners, Toronto and Atlanta combined, yet only won a single World Series with the Braves.

Each candidate needed at least 12 members of a 16-person committee to earn induction into the Hall.  The results of the voting were announced this morning by Hall of Fame officials at baseball’s annual winter meetings.